POSTCARD: A Small Treasure || Powhite Park

Trail Armor

As the roar of commuter traffic rushes by, I peddle off to get reacquainted with the trail. With each pedal stroke, the traffic was replaced by the rhythmic sound of my tires moving forward. I am greeted by a narrow band of twisty singletrack, which uses every bit of topography. As I move forward, my skills are tested by short steep climbs, fast descents, roots, rocks, and log piles.

The trails at Powhite might be the original mountain bike trails in the city. I know they have been around for at least 26 years. A spiderweb of trails that run through a forest of hardwoods and Holly trees. Makes it hard to know how many miles are in the 100-acre park. What it lacks in size, it makes up in features that provide a challenge to the most seasoned rider.

On my daily commute, I pass the park twice daily, not stopping to take what the park offers. My calendar reminds me to plan for outdoor activities. I think it needs to be epic, and I need to go off-grid for a few days. But the truth is this is not the case. The small treasure I seek I have been passing up and by every day.

Navigate over to our related Postcard Series posts at:

• Postcard Canal Walk James River Park
  
• Postcard Fall Colors
  
• Postcard Night Sky Festival Shenandoah National Park

To see more photos in this series, navigate over to Navigate To Your Adventure on Flickr